THE SPARE TIRE OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION (TRUCK) IS NORMALLY THREADED WITH A WIRE ROPE AND WINCHED UP INTO PLACE BENEATH THE BACK OF THE EXPEDITION. IT WORKS WELL AND IS EASIER TO USE THAN THE TRADITIONAL BOLT/PLATE. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY 2005,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON GRANT ROAD A MAJOR STREET IN TUCSON ARIZONA AND THE WIRE ROPE BROKE AND THE TIRE FLEW OFF FROM BENEATH OUR EXPEDITION AND BOUNCED WILDLY DOWN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY NOTHING AND NO ONE HIT THE TIRE; BUT THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAD BEEN HIT BY ONE OR MORE CARS. TRAFFIC STOPPED AND MY WIFE WENT BACK AND RETRIEVED THE ERRANT TIRE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THREE LANES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CABLE WAS CORRODED; BUT LIVING IN A DRY CLIMATE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS THE CASE. THERE WAS NO RUST OF ANY KIND I COULD SEE. I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD NOTIFY TRUCK OWNERS TO INSPECT THE CABLE FOR DEFECTS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT A LOT OF DAMAGE WASN'T DONE TO OTHER VEHICLES OR HUMANS. *JB